Florida Company Guilty of Reverse Domain Name Hijacking

A Florida company that trains developers on agile development and scrum has been found to have engaged in reverse domain name hijacking.

Clearly Agile, Inc., which uses the domain name ClearlyAgileInc.com, filed a cybersquatting complaint against ClearlyAgile.com with World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

ClearlyAgile.com is used by another company that offers somewhat similar services.

Reverse domain name hijacking (aka reverse cybersquatting) is when an owner of a trademark tries to gain control of a domain name that is already owned by another person or “cybersquatter.” Often they will try to purchase it. If that doesn’t work, tactics usually turn to intimidation and then legal action stating that they have a right to domain name. Usually this is because it’s the name of their business and they can claim the original owner stole it from them.

This case is particularly ridiculous though because the owner of ClearlyAgile.com purchased the domain name before the complainant’s business even existed. So after a failed attempt at purchasing the domain name, they tried to intimidate and then sue the rightful owner. A classic example of reverse domain name hijacking. Needless to say this case didn’t get far and the original owners of ClearlyAgile.com remain in control of the domain.